The Initiative “Land Package” Aims to Strengthen Rural Areas in Austria

17 partners launch the initiative ‘Land Package’ to expand infrastructure offerings in rural areas of Austria. Approximately 100 areas have been identified where the initiative can be implemented. The infrastructure in rural areas is also to be strengthened.

(Vienna) The thinning out of economic and social infrastructure in rural areas has significantly increased in recent decades, posing ever greater challenges for communities. With the ‘Land Package’ initiative, the involved stakeholders – 17 organizations and food retailers – aim to counteract this thinning out.

The initiative was presented on July 24, 2020, in the presence of representatives from all cooperation partners by Federal Minister Elisabeth Köstinger, Mag. Alfred Riedl, Mayor of Grafenwörth and President of the Austrian Association of Municipalities, as well as Post General Director DI Dr. Georg Pölzl.

Revitalization of Rural Areas

In communities that currently lack a local supplier and a postal partner, this new partnership aims to revitalize rural areas. The two “cornerstones” of food retail and postal partnership, along with financial services from bank99, will ideally be supplemented by additional partners. From the perspective of the Austrian Post, there are currently around 100 areas in Austria where the Land Package can be implemented.

“Almost 20 years ago, the first postal partner began operations, and today we count 1,350 postal partners. A success story that has proven itself more than once. With new partners and new services, such as the recent opening of our own bank, bank99, we will continue to be strongly present in rural areas,” said Post General Director Georg Pölzl.

The Land Package aims to offer potential operators, such as independent merchants, a new business model. In this process, people with disabilities will be particularly considered in the selection of personnel.

“With the concept of the ‘Land Package’, we want to strengthen and expand the infrastructure in villages and town centers. The ‘Land Package’ builds on the concept of postal partnerships and complements them with food retail, direct marketers, or other offerings. This way, economic life can return to many communities when numerous partners pool their resources and collaborate. The rural area needs these impulses and new forms of cooperation. I am very grateful to the Post, the Association of Municipalities, and the other partners for this idea, which I, as the responsible minister for the regions, am happy to support,” said Federal Minister Elisabeth Köstinger.

17 Different Cooperation Partners

The Land Package initiative consists of the following cooperation partners:

• Austrian Association of Municipalities
• Monopoly Administration (MVG)
• Austrian Lotteries
• Austrian Chamber of Commerce
• Trade Association of Austria
• Disability Advocate
• SPAR
• Unimarkt
• Nah&Frisch
• BILLA
• ADEG
• Wedl Trading House
• Kiennast Trading House
• KASTNER Group
• MPREIS
• A1
• Austrian Post (also acts as coordination office)

An expansion of services and offerings through laundries, coffee services, and also, for example, outsourcing non-sovereign municipal activities, such as the distribution of the yellow bag for collecting packaging materials, is possible.

“The ‘Land Package’ is another important building block for municipalities to secure local and regional supply, create jobs, and enhance the attractiveness of communities. Our top goal in the municipalities is to combat the thinning out of infrastructures in the regions because we need equal opportunities and living conditions for all people. Especially the proximity of local supply is a crucial location issue for communities in rural regions to strengthen village life and prevent emigration. With the ‘Land Package’ initiative, we are setting important impulses,” concluded Municipal Association President Alfred Riedl.

Photo: © Austrian Post / Caption: The representatives of the cooperation partners of the ‘Land Package’ initiative

www.post.at

THE COOPERATION PARTNERS OF THE LAND PACKAGE INITIATIVE
(with statements from the participants)